How North Carolina Is Recuperating Post-Hurricane Matthew

Cassandra Rush, Anyah Carpenter, and Rosa Rush walk through floodwaters in their neighborhood on October 15, 2016, in Lumberton, North Carolina. The town still needs $7 million for clean up.Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images

The hurricane hit the Southeast October 7 and left several states, but North Carolina in particular, suffering. Thirty-four people died in the U.S. In Haiti, where the storm struck hardest, at least 546 people died—but potentially it was as high as 877, as Reuters initially reported. It fluctuated between a Category 3 and Category 4 storm, which means its wind speeds were hovering between 111 and 156 miles per hour.

Now, more than seven months later, the governor is left with “shock and disappointment,” as expressed in his letter to the administration, by President Donald Trump’s decision not to give further aid. The money was supposed to help rebuild public housing, homes, businesses and further needed recovery.

Cooper states, in the letter:

North Carolina is steadily recovering, but too many people still can’t go back to their homes or return to offices, schools, farms or places of worship due to water damage, debris, mildew and road closures.

Colorlines breaks down what the situation currently looks like in North Carolina—by the numbers.

$929,403,389How much the state requested from Congress

$6,100,000How much money from the federal government the state received

$198,000,000+How much the state has already received in federal assistance

$92,600,000Funds needed just to cover farmers’ losses not covered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture like livestock, farm equipment and feed

$15,200,000Funds needed to repair public housing

$7,000,000Amount neededto clean up the town of Lumberton, which has a large Black and Native American presence

3,962Number of properties that flooded and need funding for buyout, elevation and reconstruction

140Number of families still living in hotels

82,000Number of households registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help